Improvement in sheet-metal-can machines



G. H. PERKINS.

SHEET-METAL CAN-MACHINE.

No. 191,172, I Patented May 22,1877.

N-FETERS. PHOTO-LXTHOGRAFHER. WKSNINGTQN D C UNITE STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. PERKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, JOSEPH LE OOMTE, OF NEW YORK CITY, AND ATLANTIC REFINING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL-CAN MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 91,172, dated May 22, 1877; application liled May 7, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. PERKINS, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Gan-Jointing Machines, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to an improvement in can-jointing machines of the same class as that for which Letters Patent of the United States No. 149,516 were granted to my assignees on the 7th day of April, 1874, the main object of my present improvements being to furnish such a machine with appliances for determining the proper position of the body of the can on the bottom plate before the flanges of the latter are operated upon by the dies.

This object I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in

which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table of a can-jointing machine with my improvements, and Fig. 2 a detached view of part of the same.

The essential portions of a can-jointin g ma chine are a bed, A, for supporting the can, sliding dies B, and a table, D, slotted for the reception of the dies. The body X of the can is flared at the bottom, and the bottom Y is dished, and has a raised flange formed around the edge previously to the operation of the machine, the duty of which is to bend the flange of the bottom Y in upon the flared portion of the body X, so as to form thcjoint, as shown by dotted lines in the diagram, Fig. 3.

This duty is effected by the moving dies.

It is necessary, in order to insure the proper action of the dies, that the flared lower end of the can should be fitted neatly within the flange around the edge of the bottom plate.

This is usually done by the operator, .Who adjusts the body, and fits the flaring lower end of the same within the flange of the bottom plate by hand, a plan which is open to objection on account of its slowness.

To overcome this objection I arrange on the table A, adjacent to the edge of the central opening in the same, one or more plates, F, three being shown in the present instance, and

this number being preferred, although two, or even a single plate, may be used to advantage.

The plates F are, preferably, made adjustable from and toward the central opening of the table, and their inner edges are elevated, or carried somewhat above the level of the table, so as to bear against the sides of the can, and guide the same as it is being moved into position in the direction of the arrow, and stop the farther movement of the can when it has reached its proper position.

On each side-of one of the plates F is formed a flange, a, and said plate is mounted upon a spring-support, b, which allows its inner edge to be depressed to the level of the table D.

The plate thus serves as a guide, down which the bottoms of the cans may be passed, and from which they are delivered onto the bed A in their proper position, the inner end of the plate, which was depressed by the passage over it of the bottom of the can, resuming its position as soon as the bottom leaves it, so as to act as a guide for the body. (See Fig. 2.)

By means of the devices above described the cans may be operated upon very rapidly, and without that close attention on the part of the operator which is usually demanded.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the bed A, table I), and dies B of a canjointing machine with a plate or plates, F, arranged adjacent to the edge of the opening in the table, substantially as set forth.

2. The plate F, provided with flanges a, whereby it forms a guide for directing the bottom of the can onto the bed A, as set forth.

3. The plate F, connected to the table by an elastic support, so that it can yield vertically at the front end, as specified.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. PERKINS.

Witnesses HERMANN MOESSNER, HARRY SMITH. 

